Childbirth Education

Your Care Team

Along with your nurses and doctors, there may be many more health professionals directly or indirectly involved in your care. Some you may see at your bedside, others you may not see at all because their work is behind the scenes. Depending on your condition and treatment, the following health professionals may be part of your healthcare team.

PHYSICIANS

A variety of physicians may collaborate on your care including your primary care physician, admitting physician, specialists and hospitalists.

Hospitalists are physicians who work in the hospital setting exclusively. Hospitalists maintain regular contact with your primary care physician to provide the best possible care. Because they do not maintain private practices, their time is devoted entirely to caring for hospitalized patients. They are on site every day, 24 hours a day, and are able to review the progress of your care and make decisions so that treatment is not delayed.

Wyoming Medical Center is proud to be a teaching hospital for the University of Wyoming Family Residency. Residents are offered a wide variety of experiences in their three years in the program and leave well-equipped to practice medicine.

Wyoming Medical Center offers a comprehensive 12-month residency for new graduates to help ensure they fit well and function effectively as part of our team. The Graduate Nurse Residency builds upon their college educations with activities that prepare them to practice on the unit and shift for which they were hired.

Our nurses have been honored in our community and state for their outstanding care and devotion to patients.

PHARMACISTS

These health professionals specialize in the safe and effective administration of medications. Our award-winning team of pharmacists are experts in the biochemical mechanisms of drugs, their interactions and side effects, best uses, interactions with other drugs and more. While pharmacists are directly involved in patient care, patients may never encounter them during their time in the hospital.

PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

Physical therapists are responsible for evaluating and helping patients build muscle strength and improve joint range of motion after some surgeries and procedures. When needed, they will help with movements that may have been compromised from illness, injury or complex treatments. They may also help with developing home exercise programs to speed recovery after patients leave the hospital. Physical therapists will also recommend appropriate assistive devices such as walkers, canes and crutches.

RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS

Respiratory therapists are specialized healthcare practitioners who manage patients’ breathing and airways. They work in almost every department of the hospital, from the emergency room where they assist with trauma patients or those in full cardiac arrest to the Intensive Care Unit. Respiratory therapists also perform pulmonary function and cardiac stress tests to help diagnose illness. At Wyoming Medical Center, they are an integral part to preventing readmissions for patients with COPD.

SPEECH THERAPISTS

In the hospital setting, speech therapists and pathologists specialize in the treatment of language and swallowing disorders after debilitating illness or injury, such as stroke or traumatic head injury.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS

Occupational therapists are responsible for evaluating functional status after illness, injury or complex procedures. They train patients in activities of daily living such as toileting, bathing, dressing and homemaking. They may also conduct brief physical evaluations of your strength, range of motion, coordination and perceptual/cognitive status to identify limitations that could impair your functional independence.

SPIRITUAL CAREGIVERS

Our hospital chaplains and volunteer chaplains offer a wide range of non-denominational spiritual care and counseling for you and your loved ones. We believe healing incorporates mind, body and soul, and our spiritual care services are available 24 hours a day. Whether you’re dealing with a health crisis, end-of-life decisions, or even death, our chaplains will provide the level of comfort care you desire. To request a visit from a chaplain, please call the paging operator at (307) 577-7201 or ask your nurse.

TRANSPORT SERVICES

Our patient transport team helps patients in and out of the hospital and transports them to specialty care areas throughout the hospital. They will take patients to and from patient rooms, treatment areas, operating rooms and recovery areas. They assist clinical staff with transporting ICU patients and with connecting and disconnecting oxygen when patients are being moved.

PATIENT ADVOCATES

Our patient advocates act as bridges between patients and medical staff. They round with nurses and are available to answer questions, explain complicated hospital processes and make your stay more comfortable. Navigators are easily identifiable by their lime green jackets.

LABORATORY SERVICES

Our laboratory professionals perform complex and specialized tests to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of our patients. Our team includes board-certified pathologists, medical technologists, medical laboratory technicians and phlebotomists.

Our inpatient lab is open 24 hours a day and services range from specimen pick up to bedside testing. Lab staff will typically draw blood samples early in the morning to ensure your physician gets your results before rounding.

CASE MANAGERS

Case managers are responsible for ensuring that you are properly discharged to your home or an appropriate post-acute living situation or a facility. Their thorough knowledge of community resources will help you obtain appropriate services to meet your needs. They are also available to assist with the many facets of your discharge needs.

DIETITIANS

Our dietary staff ensures your diet follows your doctor’s orders.

HOUSEKEEPING

If your room is not cleaned to your satisfaction, please dial 0 and the operator will alert staff immediately.